Nalmefene in Supporting Alcohol Reduction: Observations from a Clinical Cohort - Abstract
With the support of our local clinical commissioning group, we developed a pathway of care to support risky drinkers in attaining and maintaining an alcohol reduction treatment goal. Thirty seven patients attending a nurse-led alcohol treatment clinic were provided with the opportunity to commence nalmefene as an adjunct to psychosocial support in the form of nurse delivered structured one-to-one brief intervention. At 3 and 6 month follow-up we observed a 79% retention rate with sustained levels of reduced risky drinking behavior. This is a small observational sample, but does provide some promising observations for development of care pathways that include pharmacotherapy as a treatment choice to help patients reduce their drinking. Well-designed research studies are needed to examine the utility and effectiveness of nalmefene in real life healthcare settings.